The Gambler (Rogers Kenny)

D G/D D On a warm summer's evenin' on a train bound for nowhere, A I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep. D G/D D So we took turns a starin' out the window at the darkness G/D D A D 'til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak. D G/D D He said, "Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces, A and knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes. D G/D D And if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces. G/D D A D For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice." D G D So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow. A Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light. D G D And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression. G D A D Said, "If you're gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right. D G D You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, G D A know when to walk away and know when to run. D Emi/AD G D You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table. G D A D There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done. D G D Ev'ry gambler knows that the secret to survivin' A is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep. D G D 'Cause ev'ry hand's a winner and ev'ry hand's a loser, G D A D and the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep." D G D And when he'd finished speakin', he turned back towards the window, A crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep. D G D And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even. G D A D But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep. D G D You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, G D A know when to walk away and know when to run. D Emi/AD G D You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table. G D A D There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.